Queeroes 2018: Lindz Amer

Growing up in the age of the iPhone means less TV and way, way, way more YouTube. From Peppa Pig to the Finger Family, kids today are growing up with new animated role models and teachers, delivered in a brand new medium. And like the rest of the internet, the beauty of YouTube lies in the limitless amount of choice it offers, and the democratization of media it enables — yes, for kids, too.

What if you’re a queer or trans child, and you want to learn more about the way you feel inside, as any naturally curious kid might? Or what if you’re not queer, but merely wondering what it means to be gay? YouTube’s vast democracy has something for you too, and it lies in the form of videos made by Lindz Amer for their YouTube channel, QueerKidStuff. Created to address the vacuum of content online for kids of all identities with questions about queerness, Amer’s work addresses everything from consent to marriage equality to how one might know they’re gay, all patiently and lovingly explained in a way kids will understand.

Since 2016, they’ve helped untold numbers of children better understand themselves and those around them, and given how malleable young minds are, chances are they’re having an impact on global queer acceptance in ways we can’t even fathom. Amer was the recipient of a GLAAD Rising Star Grant last year, and this year, we’re proud to name them a Queero — because without them, the lives of queer kids everywhere would be much less rich and full.

What makes someone a Queer hero, in your mind?

Someone who stands on the vanguard and fights (through art, politics, protest, etc.) for a more equal present and future.

What's your Queero superpower?

The ability to simplify concepts and ideas around queerness and identity so anyone can understand them!

Tell us about a time when you felt most like a Queero.

The first time I met a queer kid who watches my channel, and they told me their pronouns were they/them. I felt like I was their Queero — that was super powerful.

What are the most pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community today, and how can people work towards progress on them?

There are a LOT of pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community! I think protecting our trans siblings from hate, violence, and poverty is huge. We need to push for intersectional equality across all sectors so everyone can see themselves in media, be protected by legislation, and be paid equally no matter their identity.

them, a next-generation community platform, chronicles and celebrates the stories, people and voices that are emerging and inspiring all of us, ranging in topics from pop culture and style to politics and news, all through the lens of today’s LGBTQ community.